Teens

TEEN EDUCATION & CREATION HUB


Visit the TECH Lab - A space for teens to come in, hang out and use 21st century technology to create exciting projects in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art and math.

TECH Lab Fall Hours:


Tuesday-Friday:
Open Lab 3-7 pm

Saturday:
Open Lab 1-5 pm

The TECH Lab will be open from 3-6 pm on Tuesday, 11/26, Wednesday, 11/27, and Tuesday, 12/3.

The lab will be CLOSED 11/28-12/2.

Regular hours will resume on Wednesday, 12/4.

Be sure to check below to see what special programs and events we have coming up each month!

TECH Logo FINAL
Teen Events At-a-Glance

We have a lot of things going on at the library, so here's a quick list of all of our upcoming events. Scroll down the page to find more info on the program you're interested in, or call us at 696-8538.


  • TECH Lab Artist in Residence
  • Featured Program: Computer Science Week: Code Your Hero & Figurative Language
  • Computer Science Club: Circuit Playground Express
  • Explore Robotics
  • Pathfinder RPG and Board Games (weekly on Wednesday nights)
  • Teen Book Group
  • Teen Advisory Group

Test Prep E-Books

Getting ready to take the SAT or GRE? Just need some extra help with geometry? Want to be a firefighter or police officer? Then check out the library's new collection of digital reference books for test prep and study help! All of the titles are free to access and download. All you need is a library card! See our selection, and get studying.

TECH Lab Artist in Residence

Interested in being the TECH Lab's next Artist in Residence? Have some interesting skills you want to share? Or maybe just interested in working with teens, and making some extra money for it? Contact Cody at 696-8538 or e-mail him at allenc@ci.billings.mt.us.

Featured Program

Computer Science Education Week

December 10-14


Swing by the lab during open lab hours this week to explore computer science and try your hand at coding! You can create games, design a web site, and more. We’ll have the Circuit Playground Expresses out, although all you need to do is walk in with an idea and we will work to create something amazing. We are also holding two special coding programs this week. Call 657-8290 to sign up for these programs today!

Code Your Hero

Tuesday, Dec. 10

6-7 pm in the TECH Lab

DEC10 Code Your Hero

Work with Scratch coding and design your own superhero story!

DEC 13 Figurative Language

Figurative Language

Friday, Dec. 13

6-7 pm in the TECH Lab

Explore figurative language like metaphors and hyperbole by designing a computer program where characters literally explore these figurative elements!

Upcoming Programs

Computer Science: Circuit Playground Express

Tuesdays

4-6 pm in the TECH Lab

circuit_slide-02

Come to the TECH Lab every Tuesday and work on your computer coding skills! For now we are going to be messing around with a Circuit Playground Express, which is a programmable circuit board with lights, sensors, and more! No need to sign up, just swing by the lab on Tuesday from 4-6 and we’ll be there.

Robotics_Slide-02

Exploring Robotics

Fridays

4-6 pm in the TECH Lab

We’re dedicated Fridays to all things robots! Swing by the lab and work on building and programming a LEGO Robot, a Hummingbird Duo, or anything that sounds interesting! No sign up required, just stop by the lab on any Friday.

Wednesday Night Gaming: Pathfinder RPG and Board Games

Every Wednesday

6-9 pm in the Teen Area

WednesdayGames-02

The 2nd Edition of Pathfinder is now out, and we're starting up a weekly group to play through some epic adventures! Never played a tabletop RPG before? No worries! We're starting from the ground up so just swing by and check the game out, and we can help get you started. Not into an RPG? We'll also be playing a variety of other board games, from Scythe to Settlers of Catan. Feel free to bring your own or just come to hang out. We hope to see you there!

Teen Book Group


​Thursday, Nov. 21st, 4:00-5:00 pm

Teen Study 2

Join the Library's Teen Book Group! We meet once a month on Thursday afternoons. Snacks and drinks are provided. In November, we’re reading Kate Locke’s The Girl with the Red Balloon. The main character accidentally travels back in time to East Berlin 1988 and is swept up in a conspiracy.   *Register and reserve your copy of the book by calling 657-8290.



Girl with the Red Balloon

Teen Advisory Group
Teens who are 13 to 19 years of age can apply to be part of our Teen Advisory Group - the TAG.  The TAG advises the library about programs for teens, helps promote services, and volunteers at the library.

Volunteering at the Library


Are you looking for ways to spend your free time? The TECH Lab is looking for 16-18 year old teenagers to help lead and mentor younger teens in the lab during open hours. Volunteers need to be interested in technology, willing to teach and learn alongside other teens, and be in the lab for a minimum of 4 hours per week. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience, or just give back to your community! For more information, contact Cody in the TECH Lab. Submit an online application..

Looking for a good book?


Check out these great reads.

Suggest A Title


Is there a teen title you would like to see in the Library's collection? Submit your suggestion online.


Local Teen Interviews Architect of Billings Public Library

Katelyn Bauer interviewed Will Bruder, the architect for the new Billings Public Library building,
and used the TECH Lab equipment to edit the video together. Way to go Katelyn!